Month: January 2019

For the first time in quite a while, last Saturday I failed to publish the weekly post that I enjoy doing so much. I apologize to those of you who look forward to it and for not being able to advise you that there would not be one that evening. The truth is that I have been having a number of health issues for the last two weeks and on that evening I was in the emergency room at the new hospital. Sometime after midnight I was released after being diagnosed with pneumonia. It has been up and down since then but I believe I am now beginning to turn the corner back to my normal self. Thanks to all of you that heard about my ordeal and offered up prayers on my behalf! God is faithful to hear them.

Tonight I want to consider what has recently been legislated in the state of New York and what (or who) is really behind it all. As we discussed in our last post two weeks ago, we have three enemies that we must face on a continual basis and this weeks news from New york certainly reveals the presence of two of those. We are at constant war with the other enemy, our flesh, but this turn of events sheds a brighter light on what is going on in our society today. So let’s first start with the details of the event and go from there.

The following information was published this week on the website LifeNews.com and is a summary of two articles I found there; The New York Senate passed a radical pro-abortion bill this past Tuesday that would allow unborn babies to be aborted for basically any reason up to birth. The bill passed after abortion activists pushed it for more than a decade in New York. Until now, it failed to pass the state Senate because of Republican lawmakers, but the November election put pro-abortion Democrats in control of both houses. The vote was 38-24. And now Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed the bill into law. As if that weren’t bad enough, a very disconcerting video showed legislators cheering after passing the horrific legislation.

What an unbelievable and ungodly piece of legislation! This means that in the state of New York a woman can have her baby aborted (murdered) just before the child exits the birth canal. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams that there is a mother capable of that? Can you believe that there are so-called physicians and even nurses that would be a party to it? Even as evil and corrupt as many politicians are, it is hard to believe that they would introduce or even support such legislation. But here it is folks. The start of a whole new concept that is going to eventually lead to murder outside the womb. It is a new definition of pro-choice. So what’s next?

Abortion activists have been very subtle in their pursuit. As time has gone by we’ve seen changes in the standards from first tri-mester, then second tri-mester, then third tri-mester, and now up to birth. They have always advocated that abortion is for women’s health and that changed to the woman’s right to control over her body. Now we know that all of that was simply lies. This legislation is the final proof that it has always been about convenience, not health and not rights. Why else would murder be considered at birth? So what’s next?

The big question is “Why has this happened and how did it get this far?” Well, the answer is quite simple. The enemy is winning the battle. First of all Satan has used his special skill of deception to convince people that they are in control of their own lives and that no one can dictate to them what they should do. These people are now a part of our other enemy, the world. And they don’t even realize it. They have gotten to the point that they consider anyone that does not hold to their beliefs as someone other than normal or with some kind of phobia. We as Christians are now fast becoming the minority and it won’t be very long before laws will be in place that will not allow us to speak out against such things. It is just the tip of the iceberg and we need to be prepared for more of the onslaught.

What’s next? Well, I don’t know what that may be but as long as Satan is the ruler of this world, you can bet he is going to continue his ways and the world is going to get deeper in the mire of sin. However, there is great news. God has not been caught off guard and in His timing this world and Satan himself will come to the end of their reign and will receive their just reward. In addition, because we have been bought with a price by the blood of Jesus we have nothing to fear. One day He will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He will reign forever and ever. All wrongs will be righted. True justice will prevail and just as He promised, we will be in His presence for all eternity. Satan may be winning the battle, but Jesus has already won the war. So what’s next? Jesus is coming soon! Come Lord Jesus!

In last week’s post “Moving Forward” there were a number of resolutions for the new year that I shared with you which revolved around my Christian life. I’m aware that they all sound very spiritual and it certainly would be a wonderful thing if I were successful in meeting the challenge. However, we all know that most resolutions, especially those of a spiritual nature, are never kept in their entirety. This is usually because we attempt to do it on our own and not realize it is an impossibility to do it without the help of the Holy Spirit. The minute the enemy realizes that we are serious at the start, his attacks begin with trying to convince us that we don’t need any help. And sooner or later we buy the lie and we are in deep trouble. I can’t count the times this has happened to me and I can safely venture to guess that it has most likely happened to you.

So the question becomes “What can we do to combat this situation and when do we plan to start?” We can all relate to how our first glance at the hands on the face of a clock causes our mind to automatically asks the question “What time is it?” And I believe this is the question we need to ask ourselves as we proceed with this new year. What time is it? I conclude that it’s time for a change. It’s time to:

Realize that we have a real enemy in Satan and just as the Bible says, he goes about seeking who he will devour with his deception and lies. He is not some make-believe character or a figment of our imagination. He is real. He is the enemy.

Realize that the world is also our enemy. All we have to do is watch what is going on in the political arena in our country, the trash that is being produced in the music and entertainment world, the acceptance of the sin of homosexuality as a viable alternate lifestyle, the murder of innocent babies for the sake of “women’s health”, the growth of false religions and cults, and many other ungodly activities going on all around us. And, yes folks, the invasion of the world into our churches.

Realize that our own flesh is sometimes the fiercest enemy we have. The battles that rage within us are won by the flesh and is simply because we are not “filled with the Holy Spirit” as God’s Word says in Ephesians.

Return to the real reason why we are still here and that is to share the gospel with those around us and even to the uttermost parts of the earth. To turn our focus away from programs and events that seem to be designed for entertainment instead of evangelism.

Make a much better use of the power of prayer. To return to corporate prayer times that is fueled by the presence of the Holy Spirit and offered by sincere believers. to return to individual prayer that is more than just mere repetition but comes from a heart of gratitude for all He has done for us.

Insure that what we hear from the pulpit and what we are taught by others is doctrinally sound as we compare it to what the Holy Spirit has revealed to us during our personal bible study time.

Take a stand against the rampant immorality of our time and return to the truths and standards that were so important in the past. If we don’t do it now, what chance will our children and grandchildren have in the future to stand firm?

I believe that if we would take seriously the things above, a great revival could begin in our midst and we might see God again do some mighty things. I sincerely believe that we need that revival now more than anything but it is up to us as individual believers to be instruments that God can use. Revival needs to start in our hearts and it needs to start in mine first. Lord, give me the desire to yield to you and become your vessel for revival!

Time just keeps marching on and it feels like the speed of it increases with every passing day. We have left the year 2018 in our rear view mirror, never to be seen again and we are already several days into the new year. So where do we go from here? Well one thing is for sure. Our eyes should be on the road ahead and what 2019 is going to bring our way. We can’t do anything about the past but learn from the mistakes we may have made and then endeavor to not repeat them.

With tonight’s post being the first of the new year I thought I would mention a few of the things I want to improve in my life over the course of the year. And with a little luck you may be able to relate to some of these and maybe even include some of them in your list of objectives for the upcoming months. But we need to keep in mind that there are many things that we don’t have personal control over and therefore they can have a negative impact on our endeavors. But with that said, here we go with some thoughts I have about making 2019 a better year. I resolve to:

Strive to make the most of my relationship with God the Father as I abide in Him and continue to fellowship with Him through prayer and obedience.

Make very effort to keep the interests of other people ahead of my own interests especially with my wife, family and friends and to remember it is not about me but about them.

Continue to grow in my walk with the Lord by developing an even stronger desire for His Word and spending more time in personal Bible study.

Wisely use the spiritual gifts and talents that God has given me to minister to and encourage other believers especially those in my local church.

Be ready and willing to share the good news of the gospel to those I come in contact with while being alert and aware when those opportunities present themselves.

Be a living testimony and witness of God’s grace and mercy to those around me by the way I live my life every day.

And my list could go on and on. But as you have probably noticed everything I’ve said above revolves around my Christian life and my relationship with God and others. Even though I have other resolutions and objectives that are more material in nature, the fact is that they are not important when compared to maintaining the proper vertical and horizontal relationships that God expects. As our pastor said last week, all goes well with us when those relationships are properly maintained. So my greatest prayer need for 2019 is that God will help me do just that and remind me when I am departing from His ways. I hope your resolutions are similar and your prayer is the same. If it is we can grow together as we walk with Him. Amen and amen!